Most cars on the road were built before wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto existed, and the factory stereo is usually the part that ages worst. Replacing it brings the car up to date for a fraction of what changing the car would cost — provided the new unit is fitted so it looks and behaves like it belongs there. That is what we do at our Beeston workshop.
What we install
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto head units — wired and wireless, single and double-DIN, including floating screens for dashboards that will not take a conventional unit
- DAB radio upgrades — with the aerial done properly, which is where most DAB disappointment comes from
- Reversing and front cameras — integrated into the new screen rather than a separate display stuck to the dash
- Steering wheel control retention — so the buttons on the wheel still work afterwards
- Vehicle-specific fitting kits and facias — so the finished job looks factory rather than aftermarket
What makes a good stereo installation
Fitting a modern screen into an older dashboard is rarely a straight swap. The unit needs a facia kit made for your vehicle so it sits flush, a wiring harness so the factory loom is adapted rather than cut, and usually an interface so the steering wheel buttons keep working. Cars with factory amplifiers, fibre-optic audio systems or integrated climate displays need more thought again, because the stereo is doing more than playing music.
Done properly, the result looks like it left the factory that way and the car can be returned to standard later. Done badly, you get a unit that sits proud of the dash, rattles, loses the steering wheel controls and leaves a loom that the next owner has to unpick.
Reversing and front cameras
If you are changing the stereo, it is the natural time to add a camera, because the new screen gives you somewhere to show it. We run the cable through the vehicle properly and set the camera to come on with reverse, rather than leaving a wire taped down the side of the interior. Front cameras work the same way and are popular on larger vehicles and anything with an expensive bumper.
Which stereo and which parts fit my car?
This is the part not to guess at. Facia kits, harnesses, steering wheel interfaces and aerial adapters are specific to the vehicle, and sometimes to the trim level and year. Fitment also depends on what your car already has: a factory amplifier, a display screen or a fibre-optic system all change what is needed.
We check all of that for your specific vehicle before anything is ordered. Tell us the make, model, year and trim, and what you want the stereo to do, and we will confirm exactly what it needs and what the work involves.
What will it cost?
Stereo installation is priced per vehicle, because the parts and the labour both depend on what you drive. A straightforward swap in an older car is a very different job to a floating screen in a van with a factory amplifier and reversing camera. We would rather quote accurately than publish a figure that turns out not to apply to your car.
Contact us for a quotation or call 0115 924 0666 with your vehicle details.
Where we are
Unit 25 Technology Drive, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1LA, Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. We work with customers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. See the installation gallery for finished work, read more about Apple CarPlay upgrades, or if you are changing the speakers at the same time see car audio installation.
Frequently asked questions
Will a new stereo fit my car?
Almost certainly, but what it needs varies by vehicle, year and trim. Tell us what you drive and we will confirm exactly which unit and fitting parts suit it.
Will I keep my steering wheel controls?
In most vehicles yes, using a control interface. We confirm this for your car before fitting.
Can I have wireless CarPlay?
Many current head units support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We will tell you which of the units we supply do.
Will it look aftermarket?
Not if the right facia kit is used. That is much of what you are paying for.
Can you add a reversing camera at the same time?
Yes, and it is the sensible time to do it, since the screen and the wiring are already being worked on.
Ready to talk it through? Contact us for a quotation or call 0115 924 0666.
